Even in ancient times, the Ionian (e.g. Athens) and Dorian (e.g. Spartan) Greeks looked quite different on average, supposedly the former were swarthier than the latter. More Phoenician blood perhaps?
I believe it. Phoenicians spread out as far as Southern & Western Spain and throughout Northern Africa. The Carthaginians considered themselves “Phoenician”. Alexander and most Macedonians were described as blonde. I’ve always wondered if the Greeks penetrating so far into Asia caused a DNA shift?
In Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and most Middle Eastern nations blue/green eyes are not that uncommon.